Thales claims deceased directors key to proving innocence in arms deal

French arms company - Thales - says two of its deceased directors would have assisted in proving its innocence in the arms deal corruption case- if they were still alive.

Thales says without Pierre Maynot and Allain Thétard - who died in 2020 and 2022 respectively - it is no longer guaranteed a free and fair trial.

However, the state has disputed this, accusing Thales of delay tactics.

This legal battle played out today at the high court in Pietermaritzburg, where Thales and former president Jacob Zuma argued for leave to appeal an earlier ruling which dismissed their application to have the charges against them dropped.

In 2005, Schabir Shaik was convicted for facilitating the payment of bribes between Thales and then Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

Thales’ lawyer - Barry Roux - says the allegation before the court is that Thales acted in common purpose with Shaik and Zuma.

“Now, who would have acted with a common purpose, who was in South Africa, who was there when Shaik was doing that and acting on behalf of Thales? It was Thetard and Manoyt.”

State prosecutor - Andrew Breitenbach - says Thales filed an affidavit by thetard in 2009 - where he explicitly states that he was not prepared to assist the company.

“In that affidavit, he said he was not prepared to testify, and I quote: “in any forum under any circumstances should trial in this matter take place.”

Judgment has been reserved for the 23rd of January next year.

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